Page 68 - Print21 March-April 2022

Associations
Looking ahead, helping hands
Peter Clark, new president of PVCA, says there are always opportunities in the melee of business life as we emerge from Covid, and says we may need to revisit our business
odels. mT
that they will be courted by your better resourced competitors.
Sadly, the impact of Covid
on some will also see a need to permanently shrink operations, or to plan an exit from the industry. Members can seek guidance to help them through the inevitable change. There are any number of consultants who can support you through these challenging times, knowing who to trust is important. Your Association will support you in your deliberations.
One constant we have lived with well before Covid is the lack of skilled employees when we need them. This is heavily linked to a lack of access to the right training opportunities and resources. The PVCA, and like- minded employer groups, have continually been beating the drum for better training. With state and federal governments collectively strangling the funding, apprenticeship and other TAFE based training
has been squeezed almost to extinction. Necessary reforms have been non-existent to the point where access to suitable training for our industry has all but evaporated.
more about the opportunities to see the latest and greatest the suppliers to the industry have to offer. It will also be
an occasion to talk to experts, attend seminars to further your technical and management knowledge, and will be a time to catch up with old mates.
Last year of course our industry creative showcase, the National Print Awards, and the various State PICAs, allowed some return to face-to-face networking. All things being equal, 2022 will allow all events to be live. With the uncertainty of Covid largely behind us, the logistical issues will no longer be an issue. Members and other industry participants can safely put the dates in their diaries. Planning for Print2Parliament is also well advanced.
Difficulties
The difficulties which accompanied Covid proved
a minefield. Working from home, shutdowns, vaccination mandates, ‘Covid leave’, the definition of a safe workplace, all caused angst and all required hours of reading. Many PVCA members took advantage of the information provided in regular bulletins and took the opportunity
to telephone for additional support and comfort. The PVCA HR Advisory team also put together comprehensive “how to” fact sheets and online Micro Learning modules to assist members. As valuable
as it was, ongoing support across the full range of HR and Employee Management issues will continue to be necessary as we navigate an ever-changing employment environment.
While looking back
gives perspective, looking forward is where we will find opportunities. As the voice of the industry, the PVCA is here to help.
Peter Clark
National President
Print & Visual Communication Association of Australia 21
he start of the year has continued on from the end
of last year, with Covid, Single
PVCA here to help: Peter Clark, president
Touch Payroll, Superannuation Guarantee increases, Director ID Registration, Covid again, Single Touch Payroll version 2, salary and wages award adjustments, and super stapling some of the issues under review. The list of changes goes on and on.
And yet despite these distractions, there are always opportunities.
On the local front, more businesses in the hospitality, retail, tourism, and local manufacturing are gearing
back up, which will have flow
on effects into the wider economy. Adding impetus is the announcement that international border rules are relaxing.
Of course, as businesses
in those sectors turn their minds to their opportunities, businesses in the visual communications sector will see opportunities to re-establish relationships, to tell good news stories in a way that leaves a lasting impression.
Industry emerges
“As our industry emerges from the depths of Covid, it’s clear there may be a need to revisit our business models.”
There is finally some progress on the horizon. Your board, through involvement in the Federal Government Industry Reference Committee among other initiatives, have been, and will continue representing your interests. We need to ensure that we have what we need for the long-term viability of our industry. Members are encouraged to have their say about their future needs and what they see as necessary to re-establish a healthy pool of qualified employees.
As our industry emerges
from the depths of Covid, it’s
clear there may be a need to
revisit our business models.
The possibility of strategic
mergers and alliances may
be front of mind. This will be
a difficult concept for many,
particularly for those who value
their independence and the
end-to-end control it offers.
Nonetheless, finding ways to
meet your customers’ objectives
is critical when the alternative is closer, you will no doubt hear
Preparations are well advanced for the industry’s largest and most informative trade show, PacPrint. As the event draws
68 Print21 MARCH/APRIL 2022
L
A
U
S
I
C
O
M
V
M
U
N
&
I
C
T
A
T
N
I
I
O
R
N
P
A
A
S
I
L
S
A
O
R
C
T
S
I
U
A
A
T
I
O
N
Voice of our Industry